As part of my IDF & Israel ping list, I am planning, starting from today, to start posting a series of fascinating stories and facts regarding the IDF or Israel, every friday- one topic once a week.

Today I am going to start from the IDF doctrine, since its the basic thing to start from.

I will include Israeli-Arab wars topic, IDF famous missions topic, stories regarding the life of an IDF soldier, topics about Middle East's startegic balance, etc.

Feel free to ask questions about the IDF and Israel- from any kind, and to give suggestions for future topics as the information is for you.

Thank you and enjoy reading,

IAF ThunderPilot

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25/02/2005

IDF: What exactly is it?

Most of you (and probably all of you) heard about the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) not once.

However, what do you really know about it?

To answer the question, you first need to know the IDF doctrine.

IDF Mission:

To defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel. To protect the inhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life.

Ethics:

The IDF Spirit

The Israel Defense Forces are the state of Israel's military force. The IDF is subordinate to the directions of the democratic civilian authorities and the laws of the state. The goal of the IDF is to protect the existence of the State of Israel and her independence, and to thwart all enemy efforts to disrupt the normal way of life in Israel. IDF soldiers are obligated to fight, to dedicate all their strength and even sacrifice their lives in order to protect the State of Israel, her citizens and residents. IDF soldiers will operate according to the IDF values and orders, while adhering to the laws of the state and norms of human dignity, and honoring the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

Spirit of the IDF-Definition and Origins

The Spirit of the IDF is the identity card of the IDF values, which should stand as the foundation of all of the activities of every IDF soldier, on regular or reserve duty. The Spirit of the IDF and the guidelines of operation resulting from it are the ethical code of the IDF. The Spirit of the IDF will be applied by the IDF, its soldiers, its officers, its units and corps to shape their mode of action. They will behave, educate and evaluate themselves and others according to the Spirit of the IDF.

The Spirit of the IDF draws on four sources:

* The tradition of the IDF and its military heritage as the Israel Defense Forces. * The tradition of the State of Israel, its democratic principles, laws and institutions. * The tradition of the Jewish People throughout their history. * Universal moral values based on the value and dignity of human life.

Basic Values:

Defense of the State, its Citizens and its Residents - The IDF's goal is to defend the existence of the State of Israel, its independence and the security of the citizens and residents of the state.

Love of the Homeland and Loyalty to the Country - At the core of service in the IDF stand the love of the homeland and the commitment and devotion to the State of Israel-a democratic state that serves as a national home for the Jewish People-its citizens and residents.

Human Dignity - The IDF and its soldiers are obligated to protect human dignity. Every human being is of value regardless of his or her origin, religion, nationality, gender, status or position.

The Values:

Tenacity of Purpose in Performing Missions and Drive to Victory - The IDF servicemen and women will fight and conduct themselves with courage in the face of all dangers and obstacles; They will persevere in their missions resolutely and thoughtfully even to the point of endangering their lives.

Responsibility - The IDF serviceman or woman will see themselves as active participants in the defense of the state, its citizens and residents. They will carry out their duties at all times with initiative, involvement and diligence with common sense and within the framework of their authority, while prepared to bear responsibility for their conduct.

Credibility - The IDF servicemen and women shall present things objectively, completely and precisely, in planning, performing and reporting. They will act in such a manner that their peers and commanders can rely upon them in performing their tasks.

Personal Example - The IDF servicemen and women will comport themselves as required of them, and will demand of themselves as they demand of others, out of recognition of their ability and responsibility within the military and without to serve as a deserving role model.

Human Life - The IDF servicemen and women will act in a judicious and safe manner in all they do, out of recognition of the supreme value of human life. During combat they will endanger themselves and their comrades only to the extent required to carry out their mission.

Purity of Arms - The IDF servicemen and women will use their weapons and force only for the purpose of their mission, only to the necessary extent and will maintain their humanity even during combat. IDF soldiers will not use their weapons and force to harm human beings who are not combatants or prisoners of war, and will do all in their power to avoid causing harm to their lives, bodies, dignity and property.

Professionalism - The IDF servicemen and women will acquire the professional knowledge and skills required to perform their tasks, and will implement them while striving continuously to perfect their personal and collective achievements.

Discipline - The IDF servicemen and women will strive to the best of their ability to fully and successfully complete all that is required of them according to orders and their spirit. IDF soldiers will be meticulous in giving only lawful orders, and shall refrain from obeying blatantly illegal orders.

Comradeship - The IDF servicemen and women will act out of fraternity and devotion to their comrades, and will always go to their assistance when they need their help or depend on them, despite any danger or difficulty, even to the point of risking their lives.

Sense of Mission - The IDF soldiers view their service in the IDF as a mission; They will be ready to give their all in order to defend the state, its citizens and residents. This is due to the fact that they are representatives of the IDF who act on the basis and in the framework of the authority given to them in accordance with IDF orders.

Main Doctrine:

* Israel cannot afford to lose a single war. * Defensive on the strategic level, no territorial ambitions. * Desire to avoid war by political means and a credible deterrent posture. * Preventing escalation. * Determine the outcome of war quickly and decisively. * Combating terrorism. * Very low casualty ratio.

The Operational Level:

Defensive Strategy - Offensive Tactics.

Prepare for Defense:

* A small standing army with an early warning capability, regular air force and navy. * An efficient reserve mobilization and transportation system.

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel ping list.

I saw a program on the IDF's maneuver doctrine. The debaters couldn't determine from which lineage the Israeli methods had sprung: German or Soviet. Given the early adoption of these methods, and the fact that there were many immigrants from both countries at Israels founding, it could have been either. Do you have an opinion on this?

Since Israel is a country of immigrants, the fighting methods came from many countries.

The first methods were probably and mostly Soviet and German.

Later on, the methods came from different armies: the special forces for example, from the British special forces (some methods were adopted during the British mandate by the Haganah, while others after the establishment of the IDF).

As the years and wars passed on, Israel became a leader of fighting methods.

For example, the IDF elite unit Sayeret Matkal was based on the British SAS, but later it adopted Israeli methods, based on the experience of Israel from the Israeli-Arab wars and conflicts.

Its worth to note that today armies around the world (such as the American and Indian armies) are adopting Israeli developed methods, such as the Krav Maga, air combat skills, Israeli special forces methods, etc.

15
posted on 02/25/2005 12:21:38 PM PST
by IAF ThunderPilot
(The basic point of the Israel Defense Forces: -Israel cannot afford to lose a single war.)

It's tempting to say that Israeli doctrine is derived from the original draft of Maneuver War, ie. Germany (circa 1915). The Imperial German Army had many Jewish officers (most were 'reservists' due to the anti-semitic attitudes that existed under the Kaiser). German-Jews (WWI vets) emigrating to Palestine during the inter-War years could have brought military training manuals along with them and used these as the basis for training some of the Israeli militias in the '20's & '30's. Only problem with this theory is that nobody can name a significant Israeli military figure from that period who "fits that description", nor can you really point to any doctrinal writings that fit the German 'template'.

That leaves the Soviet-model of the '30's. Before Stalin's purge of the Soviet Military, the Soviets were leaders in Maneuver Doctrine. Therefore, I 'lean' toward the Soviet template. But I gotta tell ya, some of the armor and CAS tactics sure 'look' like the German Blitzkrieg.

Well as I said, there is no "single direct" doctrine taken from one specific nation. In general, the methods are Soviet-German-British. Sometimes the methods were adopted not because of the origin of the commanders and soldiers, but due to their proven success in battle (WW-I, WW-II, etc.)

The tactic of "Blitzkrieg" was probably taken from Germany. Two of the main IDF tactics are to transfer the battle deep into enemy territory and to achieve the targets of the war quickly- this due to few reasons: The IDF can't fight a full scale war for more than 6 months- as its based on reservs, and during a long war the economy will be ruined. Another reason is based on the fact that Israel has a small territory, and therefore it can't afford a war on it's land.

Perhaps this tactic is most famous due to it's role at the legendary Six-Day War, that was by all means a war against all odds, and seen one of the quickest and most astonishing victories in the modern history.

20
posted on 02/25/2005 12:58:24 PM PST
by IAF ThunderPilot
(The basic point of the Israel Defense Forces: -Israel cannot afford to lose a single war.)

Yes, IDF soldiers do learn what is called "combat" Krav Maga or "Hisardut" as opposed to a "civilian" version. Both concentrate on H2H (hand to hand) with SOME basic weapons ( think: bat, club, ax handle/stick) and knife defense as well as some stress drill's. For those who want more training, it it available. The "combat" version is all that PLUS advance weapons Defense.

I understand that some IDF Special Forces learn something called "LOTAR" (which is the modern version of "KAPAP") and is used by "YAMAM" (Israel's most elite Counter Terrorist Unit).

30
posted on 02/25/2005 9:31:52 PM PST
by austinmark
(If GOD Had Been A Liberal, We Wouldn't Have Had The Ten Commandments- We'd Have The Ten Suggestions.)

My graduation ceremony of high school was at Massada. We arrived to the site at midnight, watched the light-and-sound show, then climbed all the way to Massada itself and reached the top when the sun rose out of the Dead Sea. It was amazing.

32
posted on 02/26/2005 9:22:41 AM PST
by IAF ThunderPilot
(The basic point of the Israel Defense Forces: -Israel cannot afford to lose a single war.)

The IDF was modelled on the Swiss Army - a small country whose entire male population within an age range could be mobilized. In Switzerland, all adult males are legally required to own a firearm which is government issued upon majority age.

"In the postwar years, until 1956, the Arab states maintained the military pressure by supporting terrorist and guerrilla infiltration across the borders. The continual pressure on the Army, together with the country's very limited financial resources and population, led to the creation of a small standing army backed by a very large reserve force. The principle was Swiss, with major modifications."

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